Adoption Process

Adoption is a process: First you research the breed. Then submit a written application, followed by a brief conversation over the phone (or at a meet & greet) and a home visit to ensure that your home is matched with the greyhound that is the best fit for your family. There are required readings to prepare you for a breed that is different from all other breeds in specific ways. Thank you for your patience. After all, a successful adoption is forever!

The time to submit your written application is once you have determined through research that this is the breed for you. Do not wait until you “meet the right greyhound” or that dog will probably be adopted by someone else who is already approved, while you are just beginning the process. We also suggest that you consider pre-approval BEFORE the next haul of new greyhounds arrives. Then you can be on site to meet the new arrivals before they enter the prison. Your only chance to meet the new prison fosters will be on New Dog Day. The ones who are not adopted on New Dog Day are almost always adopted before they graduate. But once the dog is incarcerated, you are not able to meet them. You must then rely on the website updates or facebook to “meet” the prison greyhounds.

Even if a dog selected for the prison program is adopted on New Dog Day (at the drop
site), he still goes through the complete program. The prison fosters are usually incarcerated for about 2 months, depending on when the next haul from Daytona can come to Indianapolis. The day they go home to live with their adopters is entirely dependent upon the timing of the new prison fosters to arrive in their place.

If you desire, you can also take your new greyhound home the same day that he arrives on New Dog Day, if you are pre-approved, and if he was not selected in advance for the prison program. All of our greyhounds are sent to us by Greyhound Pet Adoptions of Daytona. They know these greyhounds, and they are the ones who select the confident, friendly, outgoing greyhounds for our prison program. The other greyhounds are great dogs also, but they may be too shy for the program, adverse to loud noises or crowds, or perhaps they retired from a racing injury. And we can only put so many greyhounds inside the prison! The rest are fostered in homes or go home directly to a pre-approved adopter.

We require that you read and own the book “Retired Racing Greyhounds for Dummies” by Lee Livingood. Even if you have adopted greyhounds before, there will be parts of the book that never pertained to your previous greyhound but will be helpful with your next greyhound. Please review with each new adoption. This is the main resource that our Adoption Volunteers utilize, along with our Adoption Handbook.

Once you have determined that a retired racer is what you want, we will ask that you complete a written adoption application. Once we receive this, there will be a preliminary conversation to answer questions that you may still have.

If you already have a dog at home, we may contact your current veterinarian, referenced on your application. We will contact your landlord or other references as well.

An Adoption Representative will schedule a Home Visit. They may bring a greyhound so you can meet one. We require every family member living at home to be present, as well as all pets. Your greyhound adoption will impact everyone’s life. We also ask that BEFORE YOUR HOME VISIT, you must read our own Adoption Handbook. This is how we can maximize the home visit to ensure a more successful adoption. You may download it here:Bringing Your Retired Racer Home (Adoption Handbook)

Greyhounds in prison go home to their adopters only after their graduation, but we accept adoption deposits on available greyhounds from approved adopters at any time. ($275 nonrefundable, but fully transferable). This is why you will see some dogs show the status of adoption pending.

Greyhounds currently in home foster are available immediately, unless stated otherwise. We only accept deposits from adopters who have completed the approval process. The full fee of $275 is due when you select a greyhound. During your approval process, please be aware that we often have several people watching any of our greyhounds. We cannot (will not) tell you if there is another family interested in your selected greyhound. That greyhound can be adopted at any time in the process prior to your approval; right up until the time the dog leaves his foster home to visit an interested adopter. We hate to disappoint, so we encourage everyone to get pre-approved as soon as you decide that greyhounds are the breed for you!

Adoption Fee: Our adoption fee of $275 includes spay/neuter, recent dental cleaning, heartworm test, deworming and vaccinations (3 years Rabies, DHLPP, Lepto). We will present you with the veterinary records from Florida, and rabies tag. Your greyhound will be current on monthly flea and heartworm preventive from the day he arrived from Daytona. All adopted greyhounds receive a martingale collar, 6 foot leash, and plastic muzzle for playing in the yard with other greyhounds, or for introductions to your cat. We present the adopter with their kennel racing collar (if we have it) as a memento of their heritage. Prison dogs come with a “Letter to The Adopter” from their inmate-handlers. Your adoption fee also helps us continue this life changing program.

After your greyhound goes home with you, your Adoption Representative will contact you again to ensure a successful transition. We are there for you. This is not just a monetary transaction. If for whatever reason it does not work out, you MUST return the greyhound to us. We can help you find a greyhound who is better fit for your lifestyle and family. Everyone wants each greyhound to be happy in his forever home. We also want you to find the best match for your family.